ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Jan. 18, 2025) – Despite five Mavericks scoring in double figures, the Mercy University men's basketball team dropped a hard-fought 83-81 decision at ECC foe Molloy University on Saturday afternoon at Bob Houlihan Gymnasium.
The Mavericks (5-11, 4-3 ECC) see their two-game winning streak come to an end and fall to the Lions (6-11, 2-4 ECC) for the third straight time.
Mercy was led by junior TJ Holloway (Stratford, Conn./Central Connecticut State University) who had a team-high-tying 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting with four rebounds. Freshman Nathan Robertson (Boston, Mass./The Winchendon School) had a team-high-tying 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting with a game-high-tying six assists and sophomore Shedrach Makanjuola (Boston, Mass./Quincy College) had a double-double by way of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Derek Long (Milford, Conn./Deerfield Academy) recorded 12 points and senior Max Mitchell (Westport, Conn./Roberts Wesleyan University) contributed 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting. Senior Taj Chiles (Harlem, N.Y./University of Bridgeport) had three points and freshman Ethan Robertson (Boston, Mass./The Winchendon School) added two points, nine rebounds and a game-high-tying six assists.
Molloy was led by Rob Matos who had a game-high 20 points.
The score was tied at 2-2 before Molloy went on a 10-2 run to take a 12-4 lead at the 15:44 mark of the first half. The Lions later held a 14-7 lead before Mercy went on a 17-9 run to take a 24-23 lead after a Mitchell three with 7:41 left in the first half.
Molloy answered with a 17-0 run to take the lead back and increase it to 16, 40-24, with 2:16 remaining in the half. A Holloway three with 1:12 on the clock capped a 7-2 run and got the Mavericks to within 11, 42-31. A late Joshua Malcolm free throw gave the Lions a 43-31 lead at halftime.
A Makanjuola layup to open the second half made it 43-33. The Lions responded and increased the lead back to 15, 54-39, after a Bryce Merchant three with 15:16 left. Molloy later took a game-high 18-point lead, 63-45, following a Matt Lane free throw at the 12:55 mark.
Four straight points from Holloway and a jumper from Nathan Robertson made it 63-51 before back-to-back baskets by the Lions gave Molloy a 67-51 lead with 9:58 left. The Lions looked to have the game well in hand, but Mercy had other plans coming back on a 19-3 run, finished off by a Nathan Robertson three, to tie the score at 70-70 with 5:40 remaining.
Malcolm went 2-of-2 from the line to give Molloy a 72-70 lead before a Makanjuola layup and Nathan Robertson jumper put the Mavericks up, 74-72, with 4:26 on the clock. A Mick Browne three at the 3:19 mark gave Molloy a 75-74 lead, but Long answered with a trifecta on the other end to put Mercy back up, 77-75, with 2:56 left. Browne and Long traded a pair of free throws, giving the Mavericks a 79-77 lead at the 2:03 mark. Two free throws from Matos and a Sebastian Bosquez layup put the Lions ahead, 81-79, with 46 seconds remaining. After a Mercy timeout, Ethan Robertson tied the score at 81-81 with a tip-in off a missed shot with 26 seconds left. After a Molloy timeout, Matos drove to the basket and connected on a layup with just under five seconds left to give the hosts a 83-81 lead. After a Mercy timeout, Long could not connect on a good look at a game-winning three and Molloy held on for the 83-81 win.
Mercy shot 42.6 percent (29-of-68) from the floor, 50.0 percent (11-of-22) from downtown and 66.7 percent (12-of-18) from the foul line. Molloy shot 47.4 percent (27-of-57) from the field, 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from beyond the arc and 73.3 percent (22-of-30) from the charity stripe. Molloy held a 38-36 edge on the glass.
Head Coach Chris Watts and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, January 25th when they host St. Thomas Aquinas at 2 p.m.
